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I haven't told anyone because I really want this job, but I think I'm safe to share on here. I am disabled, and was told at age 21 that I would 'never work again', 'might be able to do low-level training in the future'. Since the diagnosis, I completed an online Veterinary Assisting course, for fun, with a 97% average. Now taking Forestry and Wildlife Conservation, for fun. I'll be 24 in June.

Anyway, our SPCA opened and I have been volunteering for the past 6 months. Before they opened, I did a lot of fundraising on my own and raised a significant amount of money for my birthday. My fiance has now adopted two cats-one in July and one in December.

I volunteer whenever I can although I don't drive. They do have a full-time staff member. And just hired an Administrative Assistant. Our shelter is very busy, and small, and there are no other shelters anywhere in the area.

It is not advertised on job search sites or even on their website, but they're now hiring a part-time assistant. So I applied. The deadline is February 8. Everyone who knows me is very supportive, especially my mom, my biggest obstacle for finding a job. But I know them, they know me, a lot of jobs is who you know.

I went to an agency a year ago which "finds jobs for people with disabilities". They did not find me a paying job, they did not listen to me at all, we had a 3 hour meeting about what I can and cannot do, they put me in a very uncomfortable situation, they could only find me ONE place to volunteer. Nowhere would pay me. Bad experience. It almost turned me off of volunteering/working because I absolutely dreaded to go.

The past 6 months at SPCA has really improved many aspects of my life. I have a form of autism, and that means I don't have social skills. At SPCA I did not want to go when they were open to public. They are open to public 3 days a week, and that is when I go. I could talk about cats all day, I know all their names, everyone is amazed. No one can look at me and guess I am disabled, I just talk a lot, and I am happy. I've told people and they were surprised. So it's definitely comfortable for me.

If I don't get hired for the job, that's fine too, but it would be my dream.

Sounds perfect! Good luck!

OOhh, I hope you get it!

Good luck! Keep us posted.

That sounds exciting! We're all pulling for you!

I really hope you get it since you seem excited about it and are able to perform well.

Good luck! I've been thinking about taking a vet assistant course, too, in addition to my canine massage course. I've been talking to people about it, but here in San Diego, it hasn't been too positive. My vet has never even heard of a vet assistant job and doesn't even know that there are certificate courses for it. He only knows about vet techs, but that's too involved for me right now. And I met one vet assistant a few months ago, and she said no one here in SD will pay her, all the vet techs are so desperate for work they are willing to take vet assistant pay, which is minimum wage, even thought they have tech degrees.

I'm thrilled for you that you found a paying job as a vet assistant! I so hope you get it!

It sounds like a great opportunity and a great possibility of your getting hired!

Good luck!

I wish you good luck. I hope you get that job!

They've now made the job listing public, and put it in the newspaper and on the Internet.
I was volunteering yesterday, and they wanted it to go through the volunteers first. I talked to the Manager a lot yesterday, she doesn't make the decision though.

Anyway, when I noticed the ad on the Internet... it said TWO vacancies which excites me even more.

WTG That doubles your chances Paris.. So GOOD LUCK I hope you get one of those postions.

Good luck!!

You sound like a very motivated and caring person, and you seem to have a lot of skills to bring to the table despite your disability. If you were able to raise that much money, I bet you'd be really good in sales too. I will keep my fingers crossed that you get this job! But even if you don't, keep looking! And put "Successfully raised $__________ for the SPCA" on your resume.

wow, you've come a long way! I hope you get the job. Even if you don't, it seems being around the kitty cats brings out your social skills which is wonderful.

Thanks so much!! The deadline was extended to the 12th, so I am anxiously waiting.
And my fiance has a job interview tomorrow for the hospital here in town.

Awesome! Good luck to you.

Thanks!
Still waiting.

Anastasia, I can't believe your vet is able to function without assistants. It must be a small office. Our vet has at least three assistants on duty at all times (two working with vets on duty, one in the back working with the kennels and grooming). Then the office has at least two techs on at all times as well who do intake exams for boarding, assist with surgeries, and help with animals after hours. To me, it's kind of like a doctor not having a medical assistant or a dentist not having a dental assistant. Sure, they need RNs and hygienists to do the higher level stuff, but an assistant can take care of so much and leave the more complicated tasks to those who have been educated for them.

Paris, good luck! I hope you get good news very soon!

(02-21-2010 02:44 PM)dune67 Wrote: [ -> ]Anastasia, I can't believe your vet is able to function without assistants. It must be a small office. Our vet has at least three assistants on duty at all times (two working with vets on duty, one in the back working with the kennels and grooming). Then the office has at least two techs on at all times as well who do intake exams for boarding, assist with surgeries, and help with animals after hours. To me, it's kind of like a doctor not having a medical assistant or a dentist not having a dental assistant. Sure, they need RNs and hygienists to do the higher level stuff, but an assistant can take care of so much and leave the more complicated tasks to those who have been educated for them.

My vet's office has two vets and about 6 full time techs, and at any point the techs are doing assistant work, too. Here in San Diego, tech pay is so low that they will do anything, including assistant stuff in addition to tech duties. People with vet assistant certificates only usually can't find work or are expected to volunteer for free.

ETA: My vet also takes on vet tech students doing externships, and they do a lot of grunt work as well, for free.

Paris, I just saw this thread. Did you get it? My fingers are crossed for you!

My boyfriend feels the same way about those "job placement" organizations. He says they are useless. Before he lost his last job, he was a high-paid web developer. He has skills--and not just web skills. The organizations you refer to seem to just shoot for the lowest common denominator, and I think that is awful.

I really hope you get this. You sound so happy!
Jen M.